"Those who labor in the earth are the chosen people of God. While we have land to labor then, let us never wish to see our citizens occupied at a workbench, or twirling a distaff... let our workshops remain in Europe. The loss by the transportation of commodities across the Atlantic will be made up in happiness and permanence of government. It is the manners and spirit of a people which preserve a republic in vigor."

But later, called such ideas "theory only and a theory which the servants of America are not at liberty to follow. Our people have a decided taste for navigation and commerce."

president American Philosophical Society.

U.S. president, built more than one hundred new gunboats for US navy.

1802, Corps of Engineers, West Point Military Academy.

Jefferson improved designs for plow; Monticello full of inventions.

Alexander Hamilton, 1791 Report on the Subject of Manufactures. "To procure all such machines as are known in any part of Europe can only require a proper provision & due pains."

Philly merchant Tench Coxe;

Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures;

Philly's 1788 Independence Day parade - float; "May the union government protect the manufactures of America."

1803 Surveyor of US Public Buildings - designed US Capitol & White House,

First comprehensive water system in US.

Philly population 25,000 in 1776; over 70,000 by 1799.

Fear of disease from contaminated water; fear of fire.

Plan - two steam engines pump water out of river up to elevated reservoir, distribute it through underground wooden pipes.

Before, only three steam engines in US.

Latrobe: steam engines "as tame and innocent as a clock."

Philly center of mechanical engineering.

Latrobe - Chesapeake & Delaware Canal.

first steam-powered rolling mill in US.

Not all British technology adopted in US - Newcomen steam engine.

1840s, most US industry water power.

Tens of thousands of small watermills.

American improvements  innovations in British power loom design.

Technology transfer two way street  British adopt US nail-making machines;

Constitution - gives Congress power "to promote the progress of science and useful arts by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writing and discoveries".

1790 patent system, 14-year monopoly.

Patent board - sec'y of state, war, attorney general.

Jefferson: "subjects require a great deal of time to understand and do justice by them."